Maharashtra: Shiv Sena MLAs Authorise Uddhav Thackery To Decide On Govt Formation

The Shiv Sena MLAs on Thursday authorised party chief Uddhav Thackeray to take a "final decision" on government formation in Maharashtra. Thackeray chaired a meeting of all party MLAs at his residence 'Matoshree' in suburban Bandra, where the legislators also reiterated that the formula of "equal sharing of posts and responsibilities" agreed upon before the Lok Sabha polls should be implemented. All 56 newly elected Shiv Sena and 8 independents MLAs were present in this meeting.

"The Sena MLAs passed a resolution authorising Uddhavji to take a final decision regarding government formation," party legislator Shambhuraje Desai told reporters after the meeting ended.

However, Desai denied that the Sena legislators will be shifted to a hotel in south Mumbai, amid fear of switching sides.

Earlier, Shiv Sena MLA Abdul Sattar has told NewsNation that all MLAs will remain at Sharda Hotel in Bandra. According to Sattar, 56 Shiv Sena MLAs and 8 Independent MLAs will stay at this hotel till the formation of the new government. He said that all 64 MLAs are united and no one can break them away. He reiterated that CM will be more Shiv Sena for the next 2.5 years.

The Shiv Sena has been maintaining that in February this year, before the Lok Sabha polls, it was decided that there will be equal sharing of posts and responsibilities between the party and the BJP. While the Shiv Sena has been insisting on sharing the chief minister's post, the BJP has rejected it.

Both the parties are locked in a tussle over the issue of the chief minister's post, resulting in a stalemate in government formation despite results of the October 24 Assembly polls giving the alliance a combined seat strength of 161, way past the 145 majority mark in the 288-member House. In the polls, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena-56, NCP-54 and the Congress won 44 seats.